Coal-car coupling.



No. 650,391. Patented May 29, I900.

' R. W. HODGSON.

COAL CAR COUPLING.

(Application filed Oct. 16, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. l-IODGSON, OF HEIDELBERG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COAL-CAR COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,391, dated May 29, 1900.

pp a filed er 16, 1899. Serial No. 733,727.- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that LROBERTWILLIAM Hone- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Heidelberg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Oar Couplers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in coal-car couplers.

Considerable trouble is experienced in the 7 solid cast-iron couplings of coal-cars for the reason that they are easily broken at the point where they are connected to the platformbeam of the car, and when this takes place a new coupler is required. Again, in order to increase the strength in the cast-iron form of coupler the dimensions are increased, which also increases the cost in proportion.

My object therefore is to construct a coupler for the above purpose composed of three parts, in which the top and under side are constructed of wrought iron or steel, with a castiron coupling-box secured between them, so that it may easily be removed and a new one substituted without removing the top and bottom plates. By this means the life of the coupler is increased and the cost is decreased.

With the above object in view the invention finally consists in the novel construction, as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail.

In describing the device in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings,wherein like detail parts are designated by numerals of like character, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the coupler. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front View. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same on the line A B of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the same on the line C D of Fig: 1. Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of a car, showing my improved coupler attached.

The invention consists of ahollow cast-ironcoupling-box l and wrought-iron top and bottom plates 2 and 2, firmly bolted together by the openings 4 in said plates'and box, and drawn together by the nuts 5. Each of the wrought-iron plates is provided with the open ings 6, whereby the coupler is securely fas-' tened to the platform beam 7 by passing bolts through the same. An opening 8 is formed through the plates and box to receive the coup means of the bolts 3, passed down through ling-pin, and an oblong opening 9 is formed through the front and rear walls of the box for the reception of the coupling-link. Within this hollow coupling-block are formed the ribs 10, which serve to guide the link as it enters and also increase the strength of the metal at that point.

It will be seen that by this construction of a coupler I attain great strength and durability as well as light in weight. It will also be noted that when the coupler-box becomes so worn as to be unfit for use a new one may be easily placed therein at an expense much below that which would occur were the whole device cast in one piece.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-= 1. A coupler for coal-cars, comprising a top and bottom plate of wrought iron or steel one of which is secured to the upper and the other to the under side of the platform-beam, a castiron coupling-box secured between the projecting ends of said plates, a vertical opening formed through the said box and a horizontal opening therein to receive the coupling-link, all arranged and combined as set forth.

'2. A coupling for coal-cars, comprising a pair of plain wrought iron or steel plates one of which is secured to the upper and the other to the under side of the platformbeam, a hollow cast-iron coupling-box secured between the projecting ends of said plates, a vertical opening formed through the ends of the said plates and box for the reception of the coupling-pin and openings formed through the front and rear Walls of the box to receive the coupling-link, all arranged and combined as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT WV. HODGSON. Witnesses:

JOSEPH E. MoOABE, RICHARD S. HARRISON. 

